If you’ve been looking for an easy vegan dressing that can be whipped up in about 2-minutes flat, we’ve got you covered. This Oil-Free Salad Dressing is fabulous on more than salads too.
This plant-based oil-free salad dressing is great on pasta and bean salads, as well as regular garden salads. With only three ingredients required, it’s likely you’ve already got everything needed on hand.
You’re going to love this healthy oil-free salad dressing because it’s…
- Super easy
- Only 3 ingredients
- Easily customizable
- Healthy
- Light
- Delicious
Ingredients you’ll need
- balsamic vinegar
- Dijon mustard (or other mustard preferred)
- maple syrup
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
How to make oil-free salad dressing
- This is the easiest salad dressing you’ll ever make. Simply add the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together well.
- Pour over any garden, pasta, or bean salad you desire to add a burst of flavor.
- Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-days.
Pro tips & substitutions
- Variations- These ingredients can be switched out with other variations if desired. For instance, though the recipe calls for balsamic vinegar, other vinegar such as pomegranate, red wine, as well as others can be substituted.
- Mustard- The same goes for the mustard. I personally like Dijon in this dressing, but brown spicy, yellow, and others would likely be delicious too.
- Sweetener- If maple syrup isn’t a favorite for you, try agave, brown rice syrup, or another sweetener of your choice.
- More options- Another 3-ingredient oil-free salad dressing that I love is this 5-Minute Tangy Vinegar Dressing that is actually from my favorite Thai restaurant where they use it as a dipping sauce for their fresh garden spring rolls.
Esselstyn 3-2-1 Dressing was created by a chef named Jane Esselstyn. She is the daughter of Dr. B. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., M.D., author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.
*Originally published October 2018.
Recipes that could use a little oil-free vegan dressing
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3-2-1 Oil-Free Salad Dressing
This recipe is great on pasta and bean salads, as well as regular garden salads. With only three ingredients required, it's likely you've already got everything needed on-hand.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, (or other vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (or yellow, brown, spicy)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, (or other sweetener)
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl, or shake up in a jar.
- Pour over garden salad, bean salad, or pasta salad.
- Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7-days.
Notes
Pro tips & substitutions
- These ingredients can be switched out with other variations if desired. For instance, though the recipe calls for balsamic vinegar, other vinegar such as pomegranate, red wine, as well as others can be substituted.
- The same goes for the mustard. I personally like Dijon in this dressing, but brown spicy, yellow, and others would likely be delicious too.
- If maple syrup isn’t a favorite for you, try agave, brown rice syrup, or another sweetener of your choice.
- Another 3-ingredient oil-free salad dressing that I love is this 5-Minute Tangy Vinegar Dressing that is actually from my favorite Thai restaurant where they use it as a dipping sauce for their fresh garden spring rolls.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 56Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 412mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 10gProtein: 1g
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.


Summer
Thursday 23rd of March 2023
Yummy hit in my household!
Kathy
Monday 16th of January 2023
I put some in a small bottle and put in my purse when I go out to dinner. The perfect dressing for any salad! I love it!
karen
Monday 17th of May 2021
I clicked on the Healthy Salad Dressings picture as instructed but only got another picture, no recipes. Love your recipes btw
karen
Monday 17th of May 2021
@Terri Edwards, Thank you, that fixed it!
Terri Edwards
Monday 17th of May 2021
Hi Karen- So sorry about that, and thanks for letting me know. Try it now and see if it works for you.
Karla A Strauss
Saturday 20th of March 2021
This dressing is amazing, I have been making it for a couple years now, everyone that tries it loves it! Sometimes I add different spices to it, it's always fantastic!
Margo
Monday 21st of September 2020
I made the dressing for a 2nd time - each time I tripled the recipe as I’m a salad eater extraordinaire! Easy. Delish. Five star.